Introduction
Next.js 14 introduced the App Router as the recommended way to build applications. In this post, we'll explore the key features and how to get started.
Why App Router?
The App Router brings several improvements:
- Server Components by default for better performance
- Nested Layouts for shared UI across routes
- Streaming for progressive page rendering
- Built-in SEO support with the Metadata API
Getting Started
Create a new Next.js project:
npx create-next-app@latest my-app --typescript --tailwind --app
File-Based Routing
With the App Router, every folder in app/ becomes a route. Create a page.tsx file inside to make it accessible.
Server vs Client Components
By default, all components in the App Router are Server Components. Add 'use client' at the top of a file to make it a Client Component.
Conclusion
The App Router is a powerful paradigm shift that makes Next.js applications faster and more maintainable. Give it a try!